Sealed shipping container



p 8, 1953 R. s. M CONNELL ,SEALED SHIPPING CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 16, 1950 z4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 R. s. MOCONNELL2,651,432

SEALED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Feb. 16, 1950 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 4INVENTOR Z5 Conn e 22 .ze Saig- ATTORNEY$ Patented Sept. 8, 195 3 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,651,432li l} SEALED SHIPPING CONTAINER Ralph S.McConnell, Silver Spring, Md. Application February 16, 1950, Serial No.144,450

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-89) This invention relates and an improved sealingmeans for sealing the container against pilferage.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved shipping containerembodying a collapsible side wall formed of banded staves, and oppositeend heads with an improved means for holding the heads in position, eachhead being formed of a disc-shaped member with an angleshaped ringsecured to the outer side thereof, and the ring being secured to theside Wall by means of removable pins.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shipping container ofthis kind with an improved means for sealing the securing pins so thatunauthorized opening of the container can be readily detected.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a collapsibleshipping container having a separable side wall, an improved sealingmeans for locking and sealing the connectors together.

In one form of the invention a plurality of U-shaped clips engage overthe ends of the side wall of the container and over the angle-shaped rimon the head and headed pins extend through the parallel legs of theclips with a sealed together wire threaded through the inner ends of thepins. A pair of the clips'engage over the outer ends of the outerconnectors with a common pintle engaging through the aligned connectorbarrels so that the pintle is held against endwise movement.

In a modified form of this invention the ends of the common pintle foreach series of aligned connector barrels are threaded into short strapsor plates which extend inwardly over the ends of the sides, and theplates are held against unthreading from the pintles by means of a wireengaging through pins which are extended through the plates.

In another form of this invention separate headed pintles are used fortheconnectors and each pintle is locked by means of a wire seal.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible container constructedaccording to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the container.

Figure 3 is a'sectional view partly broken away taken on the line 3il ofFigure 2.

to shipping containers angle-shaped ring or rim 24.

' 2 Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken "on the line 6-6 ofFigure 2.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing'a modified form ofthis invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another modification ofthis invention.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the sealing means forthe end locking wires.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form ofthis invention.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional View showing another modificationof this invention.

Referring to the drawings the numerals l0 and II designate generally apair of semi-cylindrical side wall members which are formed of staves 12which are secured together by means of metal bands 13 and Hi. The sidewall members l0 and ll are coupled together by means of coupling membersl5 and 16 formed with complementary barrels l1 and I8, respectively. Thebarrel i1 includes a relatively long shank l9 forming a space 20, thepurpose for which will be hereinafter described.

A pair of end heads 2| and 22 of disc shape are adapted to engage in theopposite ends of the container formed by the connected side walls It)and II, and each head 2| has secured by fastening means 23 to the outerside thereof an One side of the rim 24 is disposed in face abuttingrelation to the head 2|, and the other side 25 of the rim 24 is disposedin face abutting relation to the projecting ends of the staves 12. Theouter edge of the side 25 is adapted to be disposed flush with theadjacent ends of the staves [2. A cleat 26 is secured by fastening means21 to the inner side of each stave l2 and forms a stop means or abutmentagainst which the inner side of the head 2! is adapted to engage.

An elongated rod 28 extends through the aligned connector barrels l! andI8 of each series of connectors, and a U-shaped clip or looking membergenerally designated as 29 engages over the outermost connector and alsoover the outer ends of the side wall members It and II.

wall and overlies the adjacent end of an outermost connector and theadjacent end of the com- "mon pintle 28. The outer side or leg 3| of theclip 29 engages over the outer side of the barrels l7 and I8 as shown inFigure 3; whereas, the inner side 32 of the clip 29 projects inwardly inoverlapping relation with respect to the outer side 25 of the rim 24. Alocking pin 33 is extended through the clip sides 3! and 32 and projectsthrough the space 20 of the adjacent connector and also through theadjacent stave l2 and the outer side 25 of the rim 24.

The inner end portion of they locking pin 32 is formed with an opening34 through which a sealing wire 35 is threaded. There are a series ofthese U-shaped clips 29 disposed in circumeferentially spaced apartrelation about ..the con:

tainer, and as shown in Figure 6 the intermediate clips 29a are slightlyshorteruthan the clips 29 and engage againstthe outer sides of thestaves l2. After the" locking wire" '35 threaded through the pinopenings orrkeepers 34, the ends of the wire: 35 are brought together ineither overlapping or twisted relation and. are securely fixed togetherby a sealing member 38 in the form of lead or the like.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is disclosed a modified form of thisinvention wherein the connector barrels Na and ifiaior the alignedseries of connectors have a common pintle J01 looking member 28aextended therethrough. The opposite ends of the pintle 28 projectbeyond. the

outermostconnectors as. shown in Figure, 7, and a locking plate or strap37 is threadedonto each end of the pintle 28a and projects radiallyinwardly across the end of the adjace'ntistave 12.

A headed pin 38 is extended through an opening 35 formed in theinnerportion of the plate or strap 31 and is formed with an opening 40through which a locking wire filsimilar to, the

wire 35 is adapted to be threaded. The ends of the wire 4! are adaptedto be sealedtogethe'r by aseal means similar tol35 as shown in Figure 9.It will be understood that the U,- shaped.clips' arm will be used at theintermediate points between the diametrically opposed plates 2'!" ateach end of the container.

Referring now to Figure 8 there is di's'closed'a'nother modification ofthis invention where the barrels lib and bib haveseparate headedpintles42 extended therethrough and'a locking wire 43 is threaded through anopening formed in the pintle t2 forlocking the pintle against endwisemovement, and the endsioi the wire 43 aresealed together by means of alead seal '45. The angled rim 24b which is secured to thehead. 21b isdetachably secured in the adjacent end ofithe container by means ofheaded pins.33b which have looking wires :36 threadedthrou'ghholes 41 inthe inner portions of the pinsi33b, andv the ends of the wire 46 aresealed by meansof-a .le'ad'seal 48. It will be understood that ifdesired the U-shapecl clips 29a may be used at spaced points between theconnectors shown in Figure 8.

The provision of the angle shaped rim on the outer face or" each headfor thecontainerzprovides a means whereby the projecting ends of thestaves will be reinforced so that the projecting-endear the staves willnot be broken or crackedlwh'en the container is rolled on an edge ofeach end.

The container and sealing means therefor hereinbefore described willprovide a pilierproof container which cannot be 'opened' byanunauthorized person without the op'ening-of the container being readilydetected. In one use for this container it is contemplatedthatcrockery;china, or; other similar articles be placed. within the thatcon-tainersat present: in usefor articles :of

tainer;

Referring nowto Figure 10, there is disclosed another modification orthis invention wherein azU-shaped clip 29c is used at spaced pointsabout the ends, of the side walls and a headed pin 330 extends throughthe parallel sides of the clip 29c and: through the outer side 250 ofthe angle shaped rim 240. An inwardly projectingapertured'lugflil'isstruck from the clip 29c, and a locking wire 5b isextended through the opening in the lug 45 and through an opening 5|formed inthelpin 33c. I

Referringnow. to Figure 11 there is disclosed another modification ofthis invention wherein theside walllstructurejlild is formed withopenings 52, and a; fiangedheadZid engages within the end of the sidewall led; The head 21d is formed of a flat body 53 having a rim54secu-red'the'reto andforming a flange which is flush at its outer edgewithithe edge of the body 53. The ring eli'is formed with openings 55aligning with openings 52- in the side wall and headed holding pins 33dare extended'inwardly through the alignedopenings 52'and 55'. ,Thelpins336! are lockedagainst outwardmovement and also sealed againstunauthorized removal by sealing wires f lfiiil.

What is claimed'is:

A shippingcontainer. comprising a cylindrical body 'formedof staves,cleats secured to said staves inwardly of'each end thereof, a pair ofdisc-shaped heads disposed'one in each end of said body, and bearingagainst said cleats, an annular rim secured to the outer side of saidhead, said rim bein L-shaped'in transversesection with one.sidedisposed-in race abutting relationtothe outeriaceof saidlhead, theother side of said rim. being flush withthe marginal edge of said head,and projecting outwardly of said head in confronting position withrespect to theadjacent end. portions of. said body,la plurality ofU,-shaped..clips at each end of said container, said clips engaging overthe ends. ofsaid staves and overlapping; saidother side of'saidrim,,each leg of each -clip. and associated stave and. overlapped sideof, said rim, having aligned. openings, a headed .pin extending throughsaid aligned openings, an-apertured lugextending from the bight of saidclip and projecting radiallyinwardly with respect to said head, said.pin having an opening, and a sealing wire extendin through-the openingof said-lug and said pin.

RALPH S. MCCONNELL.

References oueam the :file' of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName 7 Date 254,259:- Barksdale Feb. 28, 1882 356,882 Nafis Feb. 1, 1887647,977 Lovera "a Apr. 24, 1900 745,418. Cordley-fi .Dec. 1; 19031,010,315 Puff NOV; 28, 1911 1,138,150: Rietzel- May 4, 1915 1,148,622Puff Aug. 3, 1915 1,651,552; Rosenberg ,Dec. 6, 1927 2,467,518 Banks.et-al. Apr. 19; 1949

